Hand scrubbing device for amputees



J1me 1953 M. F. HESSELGESSER 2,641,013

HAND SCRUBBING DEVICE FOR AMPUTEES Filed Se-pt 27, 1949 m m m m MARY F. L HE'SSELGESSER QI/MWZ a; W

Patented June 9, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAND SCRUBBING DEVICE FOR AMPUTEES Mary F. L. Hesselgesser, Baker, Nev.

Application September 27, 1949, Serial No. 118,168

My invention relates to a scrubbing device for the human hand or the like.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a scrubbing device for use by amputees to aid them in washing or scrubbing their remaining hand, without necessitating the aid of another person.

A further object is to provide a scrubbing device of the above mentioned class which is unitary so that the amputee may install the same upon a conventional wash basin or sink with his remaining hand.

A further object is to provide a device of the class mentioned which is adapted to be installed upon conventional wash basins of the type found in the bathroom of most homes, and having a part which co-acts with the usual overflow slot of the wash basin for connecting the scrubbing device thereto.

- A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned class which is strong and durable, highly simplified and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a plan view of the scrubbing device embodying the invention and showing the same mounted upon a conventional wash basin,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the scrubbing device removed,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 4---& of Figure 1, and,

Figure 5 is a similar section taken on line 55 of Figure 1.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral Ill designates a conventional home type Wash basin having the usual spigots II and upstanding rear side l2 for engagement against the wall upon which the basin is mounted. The basin further includes a rear upstanding side or wall 13 provided with a plurality of vertically disposed overflow slots or openings l4. This construction is conventional.

The scrubbing device proper comprises a generally U-shaped frame I5 to be arranged horizontally, Figure 1, and including a rear side l6 for engagement against the upstanding wall l3 2 Claims. (Cl. 15-160) of the basin. The frame Iii further includes an integral forwardly projecting horizontal arm or side l1, arranged at right angles to the rear side I6, and an opposite forwardly extending hinged frame side or arm 18, parallel to the arm H, and pivotally connected with the rear side l6 by a vertically disposed hinge is. The hinged side it is adapted to swing outwardly from its position shown in Figure 1 or away from the side ll, but it cannot swing toward the side ll from its position in Figure 1. The sides I1 and I8 are each provided with large oppositely arranged generally oval shaped openings 26, and pairs of vertically aligned apertured ears or lugs 2!, integral with the sides H and It, the apertured ears of the sides I1 and ill being oppositely disposed and arranged at the longitudinal centers of the oval shaped openings 28 as shown.

The sides HT and IB are provided with vertically disposed pivot pins or bolts 22 extending through the apertures of the ears 2 l and through the oval shaped openings 20. Pivotally mounted upon the pivot pins 22 are a pair of oppositely arranged scrubbing brushes 28, the backs 24 of which have openings 25 to pivotally receive the pins 22. The backs 24 of the brushes may extend into the oval shaped openings 20 which are slightly larger than the brushes and the brushes are adapted to partake of horizontal swinging movement within the openings 20 and about the vertical pivot pins 22. The brushes 23 extend laterally inwardly from the sides ll and ill for substantial distances, as shown, and have their bristles spaced apart sufiiciently to permit a human hand to be conveniently inserted between the brushes when the hand is extended in a flat vertical position. The brush backs 24 are provided upon opposite sides with eye-screws 26 to which are connected the opposite ends of retractile coil springs 27. These springs may be relatively soft, and tend to resiliently hold the brushes 23 parallel, while permitting them to pivot freely upon the pivot pins 22, as required by various positions of the hand being scrubbed. The springs 2'! also serve to bias the hinged side IS in its position shown in Figure 1, and permit the side to swing away from the rigid side I! of the frame.

The rear side 16 is provided at its longitudinal center with a square opening 28, slidably receiving a square shanked bolt 29, having a forward screw threaded portion 3%. The bolt 29 has an oblong head 3i, capable of passing through one of the drain slots [4, when arranged vertically, and adapted to be turned to the horizontal position shown dotted in Figure 2, for locking the frame I5 in place upon the wash basin. An expansible coil spring 32 surrounds the bolt 29 between the rear side I6 and a washer 33, provided inwardly of an adjustable wing nut 34.

In use, a one-armed person may readily install the scrubbing device upon the wash basin, and conveniently scrub his hand.

To install the device, the user moves the rear side It adjacent to the vertical Wall I3 of the wash basin, but the frame I 5 is held in the vertical position, so that the oblong head 3| may be passed through one of the slots I4. Since the bolt 28 has a square shank, and the opening 28 of side I6 is square, the oblong head 3| will always be in proper position to enter the drain slot I4 when the frame is held in the vertical position. The spring 32 of course normally urges the bolt 29 forwardly, or to the right, Figure 4, so that before the device is applied to the basin the oblong head 9| normally contacts the rear side IS. With the frame I5 held vertically, as before mentioned, and in contact with the wall I3 of the basin, the user merely forces the bolt 29 inwardly, compressing the spring 32, until the oblong head 3I has passed through the drain slot M, Figure l. At this point, the frame I5 is turned to the horizontal position, Figure l, and the oblong head Si is of course turned with it to its horizontal locking position, Figures 2 and 4.

The wash basin Ill may then be filled with water up to or near the level of the drain slots I4, and if desired, soap may be applied to the scrubbing brushes 23. The hand is then introduced between the scrubbing brushes and moved up and down between the brushes with a twisting movement, or otherwise, as desirable. Due to the hinge I9 and pivot pins 22, the scrubbing brushes 23 have substantially a universal mounting, and are resiliently urged together against the hand. Used in this manner, the device is quite effective for scrubbing and cleaning the hand and wrist. The wing nut 34 of course serves to adjust the tension on the spring 32, and in this respect the device may be readily applied to wash basins the vertical walls I3 of which vary in thickness. To remove the device from the basin it is merely necessary to turn the frame I5 to the vertical position, and the oblong head 3| will snap out of the drain slot I4.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and

that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for use in scrubbing the hand or the like, comprising a generally U-shaped frame to be mounted upon a Wash basin or the like in substantially a horizontal position, the sides of the U-shaped frame having openings, pivot pins mounted upon the sides of the frame and disposed substantially vertically and extending substantially across said openings, scrubbing elements pivotally mounted upon the pivot pins and extending laterally inwardly of the sides of the frame and having their inner ends disposed in spaced opposed relation, the scrubbing elements being adapted to swing horizontally within the openings, resilient elements connecting the opposite sides of the scrubbing elements, so that they tend to remain parallel, and means carried by the frame for readily detachably securing the device to the wash basin.

-2. A device for use in scrubbing the human hand comprising a frame including spaced sides and adapted to be dependingly supported from a wall of a wash basin, in substantially a horizontal position, each of said sides being provided with an opening, a vertically disposed pin arranged inwardly of and carried by each side and extending across the opening of each side, a pair of opposed scrubbing elements positioned between said sides and each having the back pivotally connected to the adjacent pin for swinging movement horizontally within the opening of the adjacent side, the other ends of said scrubbing elements being spaced from each other to provide a space for the insertion and withdrawal of a human hand, and resilient means connecting the other ends of said scrubbing elements together so that they tend to remain parallel.

MARY F. L. I-IESSELGESSER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 252,669 Hough Jan. 24, 1882 344,733 Goldthwait June 29, 1886 526,390 Glauber Sept, 25, 1894 726,201 Strombeck Apr. 21, 1903 977,091 Haw Nov. 29, 1910 1,357,641 Korcek Nov. 2, 1920 

